Comparison of Sm II transition probabilities

This Research Note provides a comparison of experimental atomic transition probabilities in Sm~II from two recent publications. Basic data of this type for rare-earth spectra, including Sm~II, are very difficult to determine using ab-initio theoretical methods. Experimental programs are underway in several laboratories to determine these data for ongoing astrophysical studies of the origins of the chemical elements. The two recent and nearly simultaneous publications, which were based on very different experimental methods, provide transition probabilities in good, but not perfect, agreement.PACS Nos.: 32.70.Cs, 32.70.Fw, 32.30.Jc

The Influence of the Vitreous Matrix for the Determination of the Lanthanides Doping Concentration from the Optical Transmission Spectra

In contrast with transitional metals whose spectra and color depends a lot of the ligands strength field, the sensitivity of the rare earth spectra is significantly weaker. This is the reason why the color of these ions is the same whatever the basic vitreous matrix. These properties permit to establish a relation for the determination of the concentration of these ions in vitreous matrix directly from the optical transmission spectra. The paper presents some samples of silica and phosphate glasses with lanthanides content for nonlinear optical applications synthesized at a laboratory scale. VIS-NIR transmission curves are presented, for several compositions. For the correlation of the lanthanides content with the specific optical absorption peak one used a method starting from the Lambert – Beer law. For the Nd2O3 concentration determination, it was used a method proposed by D.M. Dood and D.B. Fraser for the OH groups content, with an error of +4%. For specific peaks, expressions for lanthanides concentration in ppm, related to the optical transmission were found. A possibility appears to directly find the lanthanides concentration from the absorption coefficient at specific wavelengths for each vitreous matrix. The influence of matrix is discussed.

The Rare Earths in the Peculiar A Stars: A Test Case for the Magnetic Diffusion Hypothesis

SummaryA brief formulation and an overview of the magnetic diffusion mechanism is presented. The atomic physics of the rare earth spectra is considered. It is demonstrated that basic differences among these elements contribute to the observed abundance anomalies of rare earth elements. The ion fractions of the rare earth display very different behaviour with temperature and pressure. In the atmospheres of Ap stars, europium tends to have the greatest degree of ionization. While previous studies on the diffusion mechanism with model atmospheres have maintained chemical homogeneity, we argue that this is an unrealistic approach to the Ap stars and present the consequences in the light of the diffusion picture.

Committee 4: Structure of Atomic Spectra

A current Bibliography on The Analyses of Optical Atomic Spectra is in print (43). It appears in four sections, three of which cover the same elements as the respective volumes on Atomic Energy Levels. Relevant literature references from the dates of publication of these Volumes are continued for each spectrum to the present, as follows:The last Section contains references to rare-earth spectra:The present report will be limited to later work.